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Strategic Dialogue on Journalism for Development affirms the role of journalism in promoting democracy, political accountability, and sustainable development
High quality journalism is foundational to accountable democratic governance.
This is the conclusion of a study conducted by Joseph E. Stiglitz, Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences and Professor at Columbia University, Anya Schiffrin, Director of the Technology and Media Specialization at Columbia University鈥檚 School of International and Public Affairs and Dylan W Groves, Assistant Professor Government and Law at Lafayette College and presented in a UNESCO Issue Brief Journalism for Development.
A high-level panel in Tanzania, examined the key trends highlighted in this important research in a Strategic Dialogue in a dedicated session of World Press Freedom Day 2024, in Dodoma organized by UNESCO, United Nations Resident Coordinator鈥檚 Office and Tanzania Editor鈥檚 Forum. The session was moderated by seasoned journalist and Managing Editor of Mwananchi Communications Limited, Bakari Machumu.
KEY TREND 1: Accurate information provided to the public through professional journalism has a demonstrated positive influence on democracy, civic engagement, and government accountability.
The media currently defines the narratives on how the world should be. It ideally keeps us in check, a place which defines how we should govern ourselves.
The conversation is no longer only through the radio and TV, it鈥檚 everywhere.
Prof. Jennifer Thomas, Howard University said the question of who a journalist today, leads to a lot of confusion. Misinformation is not intentional, and disinformation is aimed at causing confusion.
Journalists need to uphold professional standards to ensure integrity.
Former Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL) Group, Managing Editor, Theophil Makunga, said that a there is a lack of trust in the media, and that it has been tarnished by social media. There is no better time than now to push professionally developed content.
Zlatan Milisic, the Resident Coordinator, said that investigative content needs resources but propaganda does not need anything so, it is up to journalists, up to the media to continue their independence and neutrality in developing content.
Mobhare Matinyi, the then Chief Government Spokesperson and Director of Information Services said that when they talk of accountability, it is important to distinguish between the act of the government and the act of an individual. The press is essential to ensure accountability, and the government supports this.
KEY TREND 2: Public investment in journalism enhances societal trust and has important effects on the protection and promotion of human rights as well as sustainable development.
I see the role of the media in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dialogue with the government and other development partners is key. Media needs to be fully integrated in the blueprint to achieve the SDGs. Engaging the media and journalists will better work to translate the global goals to local results. There are positive trends in national action where it was not before. Tanzania is doing better on climate action than other countries. Take this data and put it in ways that people understand it鈥 bringing together duty bearers and rights holders. Tanzania can be a testament that there are successful ways of managing the climate crisis. Financing for development and financing for climate should go hand in hand.
KEY TRENDS 3 & 4: The Windhoek +30 Declaration of Information as a Public Good in 2021 supported by 193 UNESCO member states reaffirmed the importance of information as a public good, and new rigorous research methods used by social scientists in the last few years confirm the beneficial effects of journalism, particularly in the Global South.
Enabling you to make up your own mind on issues of local concern is something that every journalist should help you do. Defining the narrative for a country is a fundamental part of what journalism is. This involves key questions such as what is the vision of this country? What is your role as a citizen?鈥
In countries with independent media, the media has helped prevent famine. Independent media reduces corruption and supports the effective delivery of services. The key question to ask in ensuring a healthy balance in ensuring independent media is, 鈥渨hose truth has the most power, whose is most important?鈥. Investing in an independent media ensures that we deliver on Sustainable Development Goals 16. This investment should ideally be aligned to our ambition to achieving all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
KEY TREND 5: Nonetheless, quality journalism is a public good and is therefore subject to classical free rider problems, so it is unlikely to be sufficiently provided in the absence of support from governments and donors.
At global level, the Media Freedom Coalition is a model example of collaborative action for media development. The Coalition brings together 51 countries from six continents to promote media freedom through advocacy, diplomatic interventions, legal reforms, events, and funding. In carrying out this work, governments 鈥 as well as their embassies 鈥 work closely with civil society, legal experts, multilateral organisations, and journalists themselves. The United Kingdom is one of the founders of the Media Coalition which is now co-chaired by Germany and Estonia.
Support to the media must be deliberate and targeted.
We know that media freedom is deteriorating, and of growing concern is that women journalists are being targeted. 2023 was the worst year for journalists in terms of safety.
KEY TREND 6: Governments can take several measures to create an enabling environment for professional journalism, including direct subsidies, tax credits and laws that protect free speech.
Support to ensuring independent media is founded on the importance of accountability and transparency in any democratic society. Kemi Williams remarked that we need to see more governments use African Union (AU) instruments, we are not starting from scratch, we know what works and we need to tell our success stories.
KEY TREND 7: Journalism faces many difficulties, including laws that limit free expression, and the domination of advertising revenue by Google and Meta, as highlighted in the UNESCO World Trends report of 2021/2022.
Journalism education is giving journalists the tools to keep up with the changing media environment. Prof. Jennifer Thomas explained that, in journalism education, more emphasis must be placed on the 鈥楬鈥 [how].
Journalists are the defenders of democracy. They have access to places that others do not鈥he White House Press Room is smaller than this鈥but it is one of the most influential rooms in the world], said Prof. Jennifer Thomas.
Journalists must persevere in their vital role of fostering inclusive public dialogue, despite facing challenges of declining resources and faster production deadlines that are making it increasingly difficult to create high-quality reports that build and maintain public trust.
All politics is local; journalism is also local. We must go back to the basics, ensuring that journalistic content is fair, accurate, truthful, and transparent. Ask those questions, hold the government to account.
There must be a clear separation between editorial and commercial interests, regardless of financial backing. A robust firewall must be established, ensuring that the government communicates to journalists. Prof. Jennifer Thomas further explained that, journalists are not going to stand in the way of government's officials doing their work, as there is a clear line between the news side and the business side. There must be a delineation between the two sides regardless of who is paying the bills.
The vibrant question and answer session drew editors, media practitioners, academics, researchers, human rights defenders, and United Nations representatives into a lively discussion. Key questions were raised and debated, resulting in a consensus on the critical importance of embracing and adapting to technological advancements. It was agreed that substantial investment is vital to ensure the successful implementation of these changes in Tanzania.
The Strategic Dialogue produced key actionable points outlining how all stakeholders can commit to advancing journalism for development.:
Journalists are encouraged to ask "Why" before addressing each of the "W's" (Who, What, When, Where, and How), to embrace the technological challenges, and to continue progressing forward.
Technology is inevitable. We must use it for good by adopting and adapting to current technologies.
Media sustainability is essential. For any business to survive, it needs a sustainable model.
Investing in journalism benefits not only the individual journalist but also the public.
It is imperative to link media development outcomes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Take advantage of opportunities such as the Global Media Defense Fund.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly advancing and often uncontrollable; we must ensure journalism continues to serve the public interest amidst these changes.
Journalists should Keep It Simple (KISS) and adhere to fairness, accuracy, integrity, transparency, and honesty (FAITH).
Journalists and media organizations must not give up; instead, they should embrace and invest in change management.
Instead of blaming others, we should self-reflect to improve the media industry in Tanzania.
Development partners must engage with journalists on all SDGs and build strong, healthy partnerships with the media for comprehensive development outcomes.
This Strategic Dialogue is supported by the UNESCO Multi-Donor Programme for Freedom of Expression and the Safety of Journalists.
Read the Issue Brief here: and access these links to learn more about the World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development here, and UNESCO resources on media viability here.
